Electric switch



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G. B THOMAS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed 001;. 28. 1920 Gamma 5. THO/W616 atented .larn Id, 192% rrsn I r F lCE.

lEl-lElURh'rlE Tl. THUMAS, 01E BRIDGEPQRT, UONNECTTGUT. ASSIGNUl-t Tl)? THE ldlt'lt'flfill. ELEG- T'Ttllll CUMJEATNY, F BRIDGEPOR'I', CONNECTICUT, A. CtlltPUlEtllTTtlltl Dill WUNNEETT- a lication an easier as, last. eenai in. tantra.

My invention relates to an electric switch and particularly to a mechanically operated switch adapted to be associated with an automatic actuating mechanism of any suitable .5 sort, connected for instance, with the mechanism of a washing machine. The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of the switch body and operating connections adapted to the particular 10 needs of an installation of this type and having certain features of improvement hereinafter described or shown in the accompanying drawing in whichll ig. l is a plan view of a switch in which lt my invention is embodied in one form, and showing the switch cover opened to disclose the construction of the switch body and the arrangement of the switch mechanism therein. ltd

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective of certain of the elements of the switch mechanism, and

Fig. 4t is a perspective of one of the comtltl bined wire and switch terminals.

Tn the construction illustrated, the switch base 5 comprises a block of insulating mate rial such as porcelain, molded composition or the like, the top of which is recessed to 3m afiord a switch chamber 6 within which the switch mechanism and the associated terminals are arranged. The switch is designed to be mounted on an underlying support 7 of any suitable type and is accordingly as pierced at opposite corners by counter-sunk apertures 8 through which the securing screws (not shown) pass into the support.

At its opposite corners the base is provided with tapped rivets 2 or the like into which lli take the mall screws 10 by which the cover 11 is held in position upon the base. The latter is preferably provided with a marginal flange 12 within which the cover 11 sets flush. This cover as in the form shown is made at from a plate of sheet metal lined on its inner face with a corresponding sheet 13 of insulating material, such as paper or libre,'secured to the metal plate 11 by rivets l4 arranged at the corners diagonally opposite tn the holes l5 through which the screws can pass. By making these rivets in the form of tubular eyelets, rivets may be arranged in all four corners of the cover and the screws it) can pass through those registrating with at the tapped eyelets as in the base.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 Fig. l,

Mounted on ledges lit at opposite sides of the switch chamber 6 are the combined wire and switch terminal plates l? and 15a to which the bared ends of the lead wires 19 and 20 are-attached in any suitable way, as by means of using binding screws 21. it. wire entry aperture 22 is formed in one side of the base in communication with the channels 23 and 24: leading in opposite directions to the wire terminal plates. i l barrier 25 separates the channels 23 and 24 from the switch chamber 6 and thus prevents the escape of wire beards into the chamber in region of the switch terminals and the switch mechanism. lElach terminal plate is provided with an offset flange 26 lying at right angles thereto and carrying at its free end a. switch terminal 2? or 28.

The switch mechanism is of the general type disclosed in the Anderson Patent No. 1,348,684: dated August 8, 1920, and comprises a frame having parallel plates 29 and 30 integral with foot pieces 81 and 32 en tending between the same and bearing against vertical shoulders 33 at one side of the switch chamber. The side plate 30 is tapped at 34 to receive the securing screws 35 which take into the same through the base of the insulating body 5. The rocker 36 lies between the side plates 29 and 30 and is provided with outstanding bearing lugs 37 adapted to enter the hearing slots 38 formed in the upper margins of the frame plates. The switch yoke 89 straddles the frame and its legs are pivoted through the bearing slots 40 on the trunnion lugs l-l on opposite sides of the frame. The switch bar 42 carried by the yoke 39 makes or breaks contact'with the switch terminals 27 and 28 and is thrown from one position to the other with a snap action by the switch spring 4-3 mounted on the spit guide pin a l one end of which engages in the aperture dd in the switch yoke, while it is supported and the spring 42 actuated by the web 45 of the rocker which works between the opposite sides of the split pin and bears a ainst the washer 46 in the assembled condition of the parts.

To actuate the switch I provide a rod 47 having a cross pin 48 at one end adapted to engage in the notches 49 at one end of the rocker 36, the usual notches at the other end of the rocker being occu ied by a spacing ferrule 50 and pin 51. he oscillation 110 of the rocker. is .limited by the impingement of the pins 48 and 51 against the shoulders 52 and 53 at opposite sides of the frame. The rod 47 extends out through aperture 54 in the side of the casing, said a erture being preferably in the form of a s ot extending to the upper face of the insulating body so that the switch 'mechanis'm, with the rod 47 assembled, may be introduced as a unit into positionin the switch chamber 6 and be there secured by the holdin screws 35. Any suitable means for esta lishing connection between the rod and the mechanical actuating device may be provided as for instance a group of nuts 55 screwing on the threaded end of the rod. This method of attachment permits adjustment of the attaching connections to the a needs of the particular installation without altering the .position of the switch body on its support 7.

Various modifications of the structure and in the arrangement of parts will readily occur to those dealing with the problem, with out departing from what I claim as my invention.

I claim- 1. In an electric switch, an insulating switch base recessed to afiord a switch chamber, a switch mechanism arrange-d therein on an axis at right angles to the supporting face of said base, and an operatin member extending through the side of said switch base into operative association with the switch mechanism.

' 2. In an electric switch, an insulating switch base recessed to afford a switch chamber, a switch mechanism arranged therein on an axis at right angles to the supporting face of said base, and an operating member extending through the side of said switch base into operative association with the switch mechanism, together with a wire en'- try aperture opening through the opposite side of said base, and wire terminals arranged on opposite sides of said switch chamber, together with channels leading therefrom to the entry aperture.

3. An electric switch, comprising an insulating base recessed from its upper face to afford a switch chamber, a switch mechanism arranged therein on an axis at right angles to the supporting face of the base, a lateral actuating member piercing the side of the base and operatively associated with the switch mechanism within said chamber, in combination with a cover. plate overlying the switch chamber, and means for securing said plate in position to close the switch chamber against the entry of foreign matter.

4. In an electric switch, a base recessed from its upper face to afford a switch chamber, a marginal flange on the upper face of the base, and a cover piece overlying the switch chamber and set flush with said flange, means for securing the same to the base, said cover comprising a metallic sheet of an outline corresponding to the base, and an insulating lining for the inner face of said cover.

5. In an electric switch, an insulating base recessed from its upper face to afford a switch chamber, a switch mechanism arranged therein, and comprising a rocker bar, a rod operatively connected to said rocker bar to one side of its axis of oscillation, and passing through the side of the base in assembled position, said base being slotted to permit said switch mechanism and actufiting rod to be assembled as a unit on the ase. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE B. THOMAS. 

